❓ Mr. Papalia questions the Minister for Police regarding the handling of synthetic cannabinoid sales in Rockingham, specifically police response and prosecution. The Minister acknowledges the issue and ongoing legislative efforts to address it.
AnsweredQoN 251Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SYNTHETIC
CANNABINOIDS — CORRESPONDENCE
251. Mr P. PAPALIA to the
Minister for Police:
I refer to correspondence between the minister's
office and a mother begging for intervention over two shops in Rockingham
selling synthetic cannabinoids, and the written response by the minister's
chief of staff to the mother stating —
Police spoke with the owner and
staff who stated all items sold were only intended for use with legal
substances such as natural oils, incense, or tobacco.
(1) Is it
normal practice for police to carry out inspections and politely ask drug
suppliers if they are selling illegal substances?
(2) Does the
minister believe that products clearly labelled by the Cloud 9 shop as ''Blue
Magic'' and ''Doctor Evil'' and priced at $70 for three
grams are natural oils, incense or tobacco?
(3) Is the
minister aware that after the mother made her report to police, her son's
car was searched, a packet labelled ''Shazam'' was seized, and
her son was charged by police with possessing an illegal substance?
CANNABINOIDS — CORRESPONDENCE
251. Mr P. PAPALIA to the
Minister for Police:
I refer to correspondence between the minister's
office and a mother begging for intervention over two shops in Rockingham
selling synthetic cannabinoids, and the written response by the minister's
chief of staff to the mother stating —
Police spoke with the owner and
staff who stated all items sold were only intended for use with legal
substances such as natural oils, incense, or tobacco.
(1) Is it
normal practice for police to carry out inspections and politely ask drug
suppliers if they are selling illegal substances?
(2) Does the
minister believe that products clearly labelled by the Cloud 9 shop as ''Blue
Magic'' and ''Doctor Evil'' and priced at $70 for three
grams are natural oils, incense or tobacco?
(3) Is the
minister aware that after the mother made her report to police, her son's
car was searched, a packet labelled ''Shazam'' was seized, and
her son was charged by police with possessing an illegal substance?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The
member raises the really important issue of synthetic drugs, which are a
problem. The government has acknowledged that it is an issue that needs to be
addressed. With respect to the specifics of the case that the member talked
about, the business is not allowed to sell or be in possession of substances
prescribed under the act as having the chemical composition that fits the
criteria for synthetic drugs—I have forgotten the name of the schedule,
so I hope the member can forgive me. It is technical. If police find people in
possession of that substance, it is an offence and that person will be
prosecuted. While it is a shame that the mother reported that her son was
purchasing an illegal substance from those premises, if he is in possession of
the illegal substance, of course, the police are going to prosecute him. With
respect to the premises, the difficulty that police have—we have talked
about it ad nauseam—is that the packaging changes and the chemical
composition of the drugs change.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Mr Speaker —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The people selling these substances are very clever, which is why the Minister
for Mental Health in the other place is in the process of drafting some
amendments to the Criminal Code. The minister has responsibility for the state's
drug and alcohol strategy. She is in the process of drafting amendments to the
Criminal Code that will clear up this matter irrevocably so that police will
know they can execute a search warrant on premises selling any substance in this
grouping of substances. That process is in train. The member is aware of it.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time! Have you completed,
minister?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
have just about completed, Mr Speaker.
We have talked about this matter before. The work is in
train. The legislative amendment is being progressed by the Minister for Mental
Health, and I hope that we can bring it to Parliament very quickly.
member raises the really important issue of synthetic drugs, which are a
problem. The government has acknowledged that it is an issue that needs to be
addressed. With respect to the specifics of the case that the member talked
about, the business is not allowed to sell or be in possession of substances
prescribed under the act as having the chemical composition that fits the
criteria for synthetic drugs—I have forgotten the name of the schedule,
so I hope the member can forgive me. It is technical. If police find people in
possession of that substance, it is an offence and that person will be
prosecuted. While it is a shame that the mother reported that her son was
purchasing an illegal substance from those premises, if he is in possession of
the illegal substance, of course, the police are going to prosecute him. With
respect to the premises, the difficulty that police have—we have talked
about it ad nauseam—is that the packaging changes and the chemical
composition of the drugs change.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Mr Speaker —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The people selling these substances are very clever, which is why the Minister
for Mental Health in the other place is in the process of drafting some
amendments to the Criminal Code. The minister has responsibility for the state's
drug and alcohol strategy. She is in the process of drafting amendments to the
Criminal Code that will clear up this matter irrevocably so that police will
know they can execute a search warrant on premises selling any substance in this
grouping of substances. That process is in train. The member is aware of it.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time! Have you completed,
minister?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
have just about completed, Mr Speaker.
We have talked about this matter before. The work is in
train. The legislative amendment is being progressed by the Minister for Mental
Health, and I hope that we can bring it to Parliament very quickly.
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